Gridlines

In the Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Walter Benjamin, laments the loss of authenticity that comes with mechanical or technical reproduction of art. In his opinion, the “presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity.” Anything else is a forgery or essence-less reproduction. Authenticity, like reverence, is yet another subtle cultural value that we can all agree upon. Aura, the feeling of connection to the story, history and direct transmission of the artist, is indeed irreplaceable.

“From a photographic negative, one can make any number of prints; to ask for the “authentic” print makes no sense.” Benjamin makes the undeniable point that digital art can not be “authentic.” Nonetheless, does that negate it’s meaning?

I agree that mechanical reproduction of objects are lacking in substance and depth; yet, I think that there is more to art than just aura. There is the process and ritual for the artist creating it and there is the moment and experience for the viewer on observing it. Both the process and the moment are intangible - unlike objects, neither can be owned.

To me the power of art comes from those intangible moments. And I believe that there can be an authenticity of the purpose and process – detached from the material history of the object. A painting can be “owned” and hung on a wall – and although there is a sovereignty in knowing it is the original, is that really where its power comes from? The problem with Benjamin’s assertion of authenticity is that it is founded in the values of a materialistic culture.

What I think is most revolutionary about digital art is that by nature it is detached from the idea of possession and thus one “authentic” piece of art. Digital art forces us to let go of our attachment to the thing itself and focus on the making and the moment. If you ask anyone what they would rather lose in a fire – their beloved leather couch or their family photos, 99% of people would answer couch. It’s the moments that matter and that have value – a value purer than monetary or material.
A value that transcends time and space.

I’ve been reading a fantastic book called “Reverence: Renewing a Forgotten Virtue” by Paul Woodruff a Philosopher and Professor of the Humanities. He does a phenomenal job of breaking down reverence into both a past and modern day context and in a style that is both concise and thorough and most importantly “edible.” In my thesis research, it has been hard to find a scholarly book that doesn’t have magical sleep inducing properties.

So what is reverence? This quote by Woodruff frames this question well: “Reverence compels me to confess that I do not know exactly what reverence is.” Reverence, like all virtues, is hard to define. It is something that is created through learned experience and carries with it the subtleties of culture and of things we know but can’t put into words. Reverence is the feeling of awe you get when you encounter something larger than yourself, “reverence is the virtue that keeps human beings from trying to act like gods.”

It occurred to me that reverence was the core of ritual as well as my pursuit of it’s meaning. Reverence is the essence and ritual is the form.

Woodruff goes into great detail about what is reverence and what is not, but I’ll leave you to read the book for that depth of understanding. In the meantime, I should cycle back to ritual (I am learning to resist you, tangent!)

Finding this core has helped me to take the next step in my thinking about ritual. If ultimately, reverence is the goal, a ritual could take any form couldn’t it?

Perhaps. Yes. and then no…
I have an inkling that there are good recipes and there are bad recipes.

So here is my first attempt to put together a list of ingredients:

1. An intro – this is necessary to transition into the ritual. The idea of the “magic circle,” a term coined by Dutch historian Johan Huizinga, is helpful here. The magic circle is a place where suspension of disbelief and artificial sets of rules are allowed. Most commonly seen in kids games where we understand most purely the power of imagination.

2. Symbols – these represent the myths and metaphors we need to buy into the magic circle.
(more on this to come as I delve into Campbell, Eliade and Segal.)

3. History – I am starting to think that this is key. History allows ritual to have a feeling of transcending time and space. To think that people thousands of years ago were doing the same thing and feeling similarly as you are is incredibly profound. It also makes it harder to question. History demands the ritual be taken more seriously like antiques vs. Ikea.
** At the same time, I think this is a more controversial ingredient and deserving of it’s own discussion to come.

4. Other people – also controversial, but there is a potent power in knowing you are not alone. One role of ritual is that it ties you to a larger community – one of the key parts of reverence – the feeling that you are connecting to something bigger than yourself. Can this be achieved in other ways – yes. But is a solo ritual legit? Maybe this one is backed up by ingredient number 3?

What else comes to mind for you? What problems, holes or truths do you find in the beginnings of my recipe?

A ritual is an action that is performed in a specific way; yet, whose meaning is symbolic as opposed to literal. Ritual comes from the Sanskrit word rta which refers to both art and order. Hence, rituals are different from habits and routines because we give them a meaning beyond the rational.

Traditionally, rituals were hand me downs- actions that were kept alive through tight, relatively stable and rooted communities. They were the glue that held a culture together, enforcing values and helping guide transitional or uncertain periods of life. Yet, I believe that as our modern American society has long severed from a communal way of life, many rituals have been discarded for rationality, secularism, automation and individualism – traits that do not as easily embrace the symbolic.

But like all culture, nothing truly dies, it just evolves. In our customized culture, rituals too are evolving into their own inspired stews via the hands of individuals seeking to create meaning in their lives. My goal, as I finish my graduate program, is to document these creations and their creators.

So, I need your help!  I need you to share your story. Do you have rituals in your life? If so, what purpose do they serve? Do they ground you, motivate you, or help you let go?  Do they ebb and flow in potency and value? Where do they come from? Family? Other cultures? Or your own creation?

These are the questions that excite and intrigue me, please share!